Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi everyone

Anybody know more about Colin Chapman's V8 plus 2 intentions?

Has anyone ever installed a small V8 in one of these?

Thanks

I've never heard of this so I did a quick search and found this nice story
http://welovelotus.com/?page_id=65

Now I'm wondering if he thought he could get a streetable Cosworth into a Elan? Has there ever been any streetable version of the V8 Cosworth?

somewhere I read his intentions were for a v6 but that may have been a straight 6

the mazda v6 from early 90's was the lightest v6, people get 400 reliable hp and I have read of a turbo on one at 700hp

I want the batteries where the drive shaft is, electric motor where the rear end is and a small gas or diesel generator under bonnet

torque would be great, distance no problem top speed would be fine.

In the thread "+2 with Elan nose" lotus-elan-f19/with-elan-nose-t24114.html it was mentioned that Chapman abandoned his V8 scheme when the American market changed. Worth reading page 3 of that thread anyway (in "Elan and Plus 2 Discussions") where a +2 with V8 is revealed.

EDIT And here it is below!

Ok here we go apologies to any purists but this car was missing its correct engine front end and fit for scrap when I got it. So having heard that Colin Chapman thought about putting a v8 in the plus 2, I had a go at making a car that might not have been a million miles away form what could have been. I picked the rover v8 because its was cheap available in the UK from rover in the 60s and at only 150kg I think it would have been the most likely engine. The front end is a modified 1960?s lotus elite with a triumph GT6 bonnet bulge again a car from the late 60?s that he had already borrowed bits of. The rest of it I made up and if I was going to put the rover v8 in I figured I might as well put the 4.6ltr in from the range rover p38. The LT77 gearbox that came with the engine was heavy and crap so the TVR chimaera borg warner t5 gear box could take the power and was lighter, the lotus drive shafts could not take the 280bhp and 360lbs of torque that?s a guess by the way so I modified the chassis to take the Sierra Cosworth LSD diff and used the cosworth short drive shaft on the passenger side and had a custom short one made for the drivers side along with custom hub carriers so I could fit the sierra rear brakes and a hand brake that actually works. Anyway am not a lotus expert so half of what I just said might be wrong but it drives nice and scares the hell out me, still got a long shopping list including a used Spyder chassis that I can butcher and an MSD electronic ignition and distributor, under dash trims and a 90 degree take off for the speedo drive so if any one can help point me in the right direction it would be appreciated. I will add some more pics over the weekend .

Okay, I like it a lot. You know what that car looks better than a +2 in the front. Sorry if I offened anyone but the lines look great.

wow, nicely done!! I like it too! you can be proud of your work.
cheers robin

Stunning!!!

How much more popular would the plus 2 have been if they looked like that?

How about if they looked like that and had a Rover V8 lump?

Mind you probably in the day the styling would have been seen as old fashioned but to me that is one of the most beautifull cars I have ever seen.

That looks like one hell of a Plus 2.

Do keep us posted of any developments.

Peter

Fantastic, I love the front end too.

Paul,

Chancer wrote:Stunning!!!

How much more popular would the plus 2 have been if they looked like that?

How about if they looked like that and had a Rover V8 lump?

Mind you probably in the day the styling would have been seen as old fashioned but to me that is one of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen.

It would have seemed retro which wasn't fashionable. It is rather 60s Italian at the front, think Frua, and I'd like to see the overal balance better before passing judgement.

The +2 side view was ugly when it came out due to the naked side window shape but the front was fine and reflected the bugeoning wedge formula cars, e.g. Type 56 turbine car. Later models looked much better and the rear quarter view is sublime.

Munro's magnificently produced machine is astonishing and with 280 BHP and a Lotus chassis do I care if it's retro?

Wow! That's amazing! I like it! Which surprises even me. Great job.

Love that front...

Mark

Thank you to everybody for your comments, You have inspired me again its been a garage queen for for years now and I have only taken it to one show at knock Hill where it failed dismally on the track due to a replacement fuel pump that i had to fit the night before not being up to the job but I will try to take it to some shows this year and I will keep looking for that illusive second hand Spyder chassis.
Thanks again Munro

Awesome! Did you make any suspension changes?